Terry Francona wanted a while away from baseball. A 12 months was lengthy sufficient.

Certainly one of baseball’s most beloved managers, Francona has been employed by the Cincinnati Reds, returning to a group he performed for after stepping down in Cleveland following final season due to well being causes.

An individual aware of the scenario confirmed the transfer to The Related Press on Thursday night time on situation of anonymity as a result of the Reds had not introduced the choice. An announcement may come later this week.

Francona, who gained two World Sequence titles with the Boston Crimson Sox, is changing David Bell, fired by the Reds final month within the closing days of his sixth season. Bell went 409-456 throughout his tenure.

Francona, who turns 66 in April, performed as an outfielder for Cincinnati in 1987. He hit .227 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 102 video games.

It’s simple to see the enchantment of the scenario for each Francona and Cincinnati. The Reds went 77-85 this 12 months, however they’ve one of many recreation’s most dynamic gamers in Elly De La Cruz and a probably deep rotation — fronted by Hunter Greene.

Francona helped All-Star third baseman José Ramírez change into one in all baseball’s finest all-around gamers in Cleveland, and he should not have any downside commanding the eye of Cincinnati’s younger roster.

After leaving the Guardians, Francona, a three-time AL Supervisor of the Yr, frolicked at his new house in Arizona and largely saved a low profile apart from attending basketball video games at his alma mater in Tucson. He returned to Cleveland briefly in the course of the summer season to assist launch a brand new restaurant during which he has an possession stake.

Francona has a 1,950-1,672 report in 23 years as a big-league supervisor with Philadelphia (1997-2000), the Crimson Sox (2004-2011) and Guardians (2013-2023).

He was slowed by severe medical points in his closing years in Cleveland, however stayed away from calling his departure a retirement.

“I by no means was actual involved in regards to the phrase retire,” he mentioned final 12 months. “I suppose if you say retire, it’s like, nicely, you’re going house and never doing something. Don’t really feel that means both. We’ll determine one thing out that is sensible.”

He discovered that one thing on the opposite facet of Ohio.

With 1,950 wins, he’s thirteenth on the profession record, sandwiched by Casey Stengel (1,905) and Leo Durocher (2,008), two different colourful managers who like Francona endeared themselves to followers and gamers.

Francona’s rise as one of many recreation’s finest managers was considerably surprising.

Issues didn’t go significantly nicely for him in Philadelphia, the place he had 4 straight dropping seasons, acquired continuously booed in a demanding, sports-crazed metropolis and had the tires on his automobile slashed on fan appreciation day.

He was an unlikely selection for Boston’s job, however instantly claimed legendary standing by profitable the World Sequence in his first season.

The Crimson Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit within the AL Championship Sequence and swept St. Louis to finish an 86-year championship drought and exorcise the “Curse of the Bambino,” a perceived hex on the group after Babe Ruth was bought to the rival New York Yankees.

When his tenure in Boston resulted in 2011 amid some controversy, Francona took a 12 months off and labored in broadcasting earlier than going to Cleveland, the place his dad, Tito, spent six seasons and he himself performed 62 video games in 1988.

Francona took Cleveland to the playoffs seven instances in his 11 seasons and gained 921 video games. The Guardians, then generally known as the Indians, made it to the World Sequence in 2016 solely to lose to the Chicago Cubs in a seven-game sequence.

Generally known as Tito, Francona turned widespread in Cleveland along with his fast wit and affable character. He rode a scooter from his downtown condominium to the ballpark every day, typically waving to followers alongside his kind route.

Francona may have taken jobs elsewhere however felt a deep reference to Cleveland’s group after his dad performed for the Indians within the late Fifties and early 60s. He was pressured to take two prolonged leaves of absence with Cleveland in 2020 whereas coping with coronary heart and gastrointestinal points.

For his closing recreation with the Guardians on Sept. 27 final season, the membership handed out “Thanks Tito” T-shirts to followers at Progressive Subject and the Guardians despatched him out in fashion with a 4-3 win —- over the Reds.

Afterward, Francona mentioned he wanted a break.

“I simply assume the timing is nice,” he mentioned. “I’m simply sort of beat up bodily, and it’s laborious to do that job proper or the best way I wish to do it. I don’t wish to shortchange anyone. I don’t wish to overstay my welcome.”

His hiring by the Reds additionally coincides with the Guardians ending with the AL’s second-best report underneath first-year supervisor Stephen Vogt, who had the troublesome job of attempting to interchange a Cleveland icon.

The Guardians open the AL Division Sequence in opposition to Detroit on Saturday.

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AP Baseball Author Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.

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AP MLB:

CNN
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Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney on Thursday stated she is “proudly” casting her vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in Wisconsin, invoking the occasions of January 6, 2021, and touting her endorsement of the Democratic presidential nominee within the essential battleground state.

“I let you know, I’ve by no means voted for a Democrat, however this yr, I’m proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Cheney stated at a Harris marketing campaign occasion in Ripon, Wisconsin. In an try to influence swing voters, she pointed towards former President Donald Trump’s actions on January 6, declaring that anybody “who would do this stuff can by no means be trusted with energy once more.”

“Donald Trump was keen to sacrifice our Capitol, to permit legislation enforcement officers to be overwhelmed and brutalized in his identify, and to violate the legislation and the Structure to be able to seize energy for himself,” Cheney stated because the occasion’s viewers cheered. “I don’t care in case you are a Democrat or Republican or an unbiased, that’s depravity and we mustn’t ever develop into numb to it.”

The marketing campaign occasion is the most recent effort from the previous Wyoming congresswoman to maneuver undecided voters away from Donald Trump with lower than 5 weeks till Election Day. Cheney, who beforehand informed CNN she was dedicated to doing what was essential to cease the previous president from returning to the White Home, introduced that she was voting for Harris final month in North Carolina, one other battleground state. She has stated she anticipated to marketing campaign towards Trump in battleground states.

On the Thursday marketing campaign occasion in Ripon – dwelling to a schoolhouse often called the birthplace of the Republican Get together – Harris made a direct attraction to Republican and unbiased voters.

“If individuals throughout Wisconsin and our nation are keen to do what Liz is doing to face up for the rule of legislation, for our democratic beliefs and the Structure of america, then collectively, I do know we are able to chart a brand new manner ahead not as members of anybody celebration, however as People,” she stated.

As Cheney appeared with Harris in Wisconsin, Trump bashed the previous congresswoman on Fox Information, calling out her loss to a Trump-backed main challenger in 2022.

“Properly, Liz Cheney misplaced for Congress. She was horrible. Liz Cheney is a silly battle hawk, all she needs to do is shoot missiles at individuals. I actually assume it hurts. I believe frankly if Kamala – I believe they damage one another. I believe they’re so dangerous, each of them,” Trump stated.

Cheney’s zealous opposition to Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election – together with her vote to question him – ultimately led the Home GOP to oust her as convention chair and substitute her with a high Trump ally, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik. Cheney went on to function vice chair of the Home choose committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol.

Requested for remark concerning Cheney’s determination to look with Harris, Trump marketing campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt pointed CNN to an August 2020 social media publish by the Wyoming Republican shortly after Joe Biden picked Harris as his operating mate.

“.@KamalaHarris has a extra liberal voting report than Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren. Her radical leftist views-raising taxes, banning gun gross sales, taxpayer $ for abortion & unlawful immigrant well being care, eliminating personal well being insurance-would be devastating for America,” Cheney posted on August 12, 2020.

Cheney stated in September that she had severe coverage disagreements with Harris on quite a lot of points however selected to assist her this yr as a result of she feels that “these of us who consider within the protection of our democracy, within the protection of our Structure, and the survival of our republic have an obligation on this election cycle to return collectively to place these issues above politics.”

A slew of Republicans have backed the vp in her bid to defeat Trump and urged members of the GOP to cross celebration strains, together with Cheney’s father, former Vice President Dick Cheney; former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger; former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan; and former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake.

Cassidy Hutchinson, the previous Trump White Home aide who delivered bombshell testimony to the Home choose committee investigating January 6, grew to become the most recent high-profile Republican to publicly endorse Harris this week. She informed CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday that the choice was “quite simple” for her.

“In principle, we now have two sturdy political events. That’s not what we’re going through proper now and the standard of character is what I’m voting for,” she stated on “AC360.”

Sarah Matthews, Trump’s former deputy press secretary, who will marketing campaign for Harris with Cheney and different former White Home aides in Pennsylvania subsequent week, informed CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday that she didn’t envision herself endorsing Harris 4 years in the past, however she “additionally didn’t assume that an rebellion at our nation’s capital was potential.”

“I additionally didn’t assume that we’d ever have a president who would disrupt the peaceable switch of energy for the primary time in our nation’s historical past. So it made the choice straightforward, as a result of I consider that Donald Trump has proven us that he’s wholly unfit to ever function president once more,” she stated.

Cheney has lengthy tried to fight Trump’s affect in elections. Within the 2022 midterms, the political motion committee she began positioned an advert purchase urging Arizona voters to reject GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake and Republican Secretary of State nominee Mark Finchem. She additionally crossed celebration strains to stump for 2 reasonable Democrats in aggressive Home races that yr.

The marketing campaign’s efforts to win over Republicans voters will lengthen past the Cheney occasion.

Thursday’s marketing campaign cease would be the begin of a bunch of different occasions over the approaching days, meant to attraction to voters disenchanted with Trump and principally anxious about defending the Structure, in response to a Harris marketing campaign official. Different occasions might be held in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Harris-Walz is spending vital cash on this house as a part of a greater than seven determine paid media technique, the marketing campaign official stated. Whereas Trump’s crew have former Democrats as surrogates, there is no such thing as a organized “Democrats for Trump” equal.

Republicans for Harris’ outreach will even embrace a brand new economy-focused advert that includes a direct to digicam testimonial from a two-time Trump voter on how Trump would make the economic system worse for individuals like him, stated the marketing campaign official. The advert, “Has Our Backs,” first shared with CNN, is a part of the marketing campaign’s $370 million promoting reservations between Labor Day and Election Day and can run on digital platforms, together with YouTube TV.

“We all know that these are votes we have to earn, and we’re persevering with to place within the work on a regular basis to win over the thousands and thousands of Republicans who’re prepared to show the web page on the chaos, extremism, and division of Donald Trump,” stated Austin Weatherford, nationwide Republican outreach director for the Harris-Walz marketing campaign, in a press release.

Not all Democrats assume that is the very best technique.

Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman, the primary Muslim lady elected to the physique, has been particularly vocal on social media in regards to the issues she views with the Harris crew leaning into endorsements from outstanding Republicans like Cheney.

“It feels just like the marketing campaign remains to be making an attempt to run a Biden marketing campaign, and it’s doing Harris an enormous disservice,” she posted on X.

“Republicans should not gonna save us, and touting their endorsements is popping individuals off,” Romman stated.

This story has been up to date with further info.

CNN’s Alayna Treene, Veronica Stracqualursi and Ebony Davis contributed to this report.

Ripon, Wisconsin — Former Rep. Liz Cheney, the highest-profile Republican to announce her help for Vice President Kamala Harris, joined her on the marketing campaign path at an occasion at Ripon, Wisconsin, the birthplace of the Republican Social gathering.

“I’m proudly casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Cheney mentioned Thursday. 

Cheney, alongside along with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, introduced in September that Harris would have their vote. The Cheneys and Harris have virtually nothing in widespread of their views on coverage, however they a shared antipathy for former President Donald Trump and see him as a menace to democracy after the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

On the rally, Harris praised each. 

“Liz Cheney actually is a frontrunner who places nation above get together and above self, a real patriot,” Harris instructed the gang. “And it’s my profound honor to have your help. You and I additionally wish to thank your father, Vice President Dick Cheney, for his help and what he has carried out to serve our nation. “

Cheney was the third highest-ranking Republican within the Home earlier than she was ousted for voting to question Trump. A Trump-backed challenger then defeated Cheney in her main. Cheney was certainly one of two Republicans who served on the Home Jan. 6 choose committee that investigated the riot and what led as much as it. That committee really useful that Trump be prosecuted for his conduct surrounding the assault on the Capitol.

“As a conservative, as somebody who believes in and cares in regards to the Structure, I’ve thought deeply about this. And due to the hazard that Donald Trump poses, not solely am I not voting for Donald Trump, however I shall be voting for Kamala Harris,” Cheney introduced final month throughout an occasion at Duke College.   

The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon hosted conferences in 1854 that led to the creation of the Republican Social gathering. It was designated a nationwide historic website in 1974, and Harris is predicted to handle the importance of the placement throughout her speech, in keeping with a senior Harris marketing campaign official. 

Cheney’s look with Harris is a part of a concerted effort by the marketing campaign to enchantment to Republicans disaffected by Trump. 

On Wednesday, the marketing campaign launched a brand new advert that includes a direct-to-camera enchantment from a two-time Trump voter in Pennsylvania who argued the previous president’s financial plan is not going to profit working voters. 

The marketing campaign can also be internet hosting “Republicans for Harris” occasions throughout the battleground states this week, together with an occasion with former Reps. Denver Riggleman in North Carolina and Adam Kinzinger in Las Vegas. Kinzinger additionally served on the Home Jan. 6 committee, whereas Riggleman served as an adviser. 

Harris’ operating mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, famous the Cheney endorsement throughout the vice presidential debate on Tuesday to argue their coalition of help is large.

“I am as shocked as anyone of this coalition that Kamala Harris has constructed, from Bernie Sanders to Dick Cheney to Taylor Swift and a complete bunch of parents in between there,” Walz mentioned. “They do not all agree on the whole lot, however they’re really optimistic individuals. They consider in a optimistic way forward for this nation, and one the place our politics could be higher than it’s.” 

Whereas solely a small variety of voters who establish as conservative are backing Harris, in keeping with a September CBS Information ballot, voters who establish as “reasonable” favor Harris over Trump by double digits. 

A number of Republican officers spoke on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in August, together with Kinzinger, Georgia Lt. Gov.Geoff Duncan and Olivia Troye, a former adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Their exercise for the marketing campaign has continued. Troye has appeared in a Harris marketing campaign advert, and Duncan has additionally been dispatched as a surrogate for the marketing campaign in latest weeks. 

After a September occasion in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a GOP-leaning portion of the state, Duncan mentioned Trump “makes it more durable for himself” to not lose Republican help due to a few of his criticism of Republican officers, comparable to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

“There’s actually no thriller to this. Help for Donald Trump amongst the vast majority of Republicans is a mile large and an inch deep. Virtually each Republican outdoors of a small wing of MAGA supporters would like to have any person aside from Donald Trump as their nominee, however that simply did not occur,” Duncan instructed CBS Information.

Kate Horning, an undecided Pennsylvania voter who attended the occasion and backed Trump in previous elections, mentioned she likes the outreach to Republicans however needs it to be “real.”

“There’s numerous points right here. I am not right here to speak about abortion — I am involved in regards to the quantity of individuals coming throughout the border and the way it impacts faculties,” she mentioned. 

Since she grew to become the nominee, Harris has tried to enchantment to centrists by supporting restrictions on immigration backed on a bipartisan degree in Congress, touting herself as a pro-business capitalist and reiterating she wouldn’t ban fracking — a place she held as a 2020 presidential main candidate however deserted after turning into President Biden’s operating mate later that cycle. 

If you happen to’re a fan of the film “Imply Ladies,” you doubtless know why the date of October 3 has significance and is extra “fetch” than different days within the 12 months. 

Because the launch of the hit comedy 20 years in the past, Oct. 3 is often known as “Imply Ladies Day.” However, why is that this the case?

 In honor of the film’s twentieth anniversary, “Imply Ladies” is returning to many theaters throughout the nation on October 3.

Earlier this 12 months, Tina Fey created and launched a brand new “Imply Ladies” film – an adaptation of the Broadway musical, which was impressed by the 2004 movie.

RELATED: Lindsay Lohan seems at new ‘Imply Ladies’ premiere

It was billed as “a brand new twist from Tina Fey,” incorporating songs and new expertise, however Fey stated the “core story” nonetheless resonated 20 years later.